CAFNR study abroad programs continue to expand and offer diverse experiences

by Hilary Vanater, posted Sept. 29, 2011

The College of Agriculture Food and Natural Recourses offers Study Abroad programs to both CAFNR and MU students.

“Studying abroad is a great opportunity for students to earn credit towards their degree while having fun learning about a new culture and lifestyle. With 21 destinations and four different sessions there is a perfect program for everyone,” said Shelby Davis, an agricultual education major.

She spent six weeks in Prague, Czech Republic, and took a six-day study tour around the Czech Republic where she visited agriculture operations and many historical and scenic sights.

“As a history buff, getting to see some of the most historically significant world landmarks were simply breathtaking,” Davis said. “Having never left the United States, much less flown on an airplane, my experience studying abroad left a deep impression on me.”

While in Prague, the MU students were paired with 15 Czech Republic students from the Czech Life Science University. The students from the Czech Republic guided MU students around Prague. The Czech’s spent every spare moment with students and formed close friendships, Davis said.

The MU students were given the opportunity to pair up with one local Czech student and travel to their hometown. For two days the MU students were able to catch a glimpse of everyday life in the Czech Republic.  

Every other year the opportunity for students to study abroad in Ireland becomes available. While in Ireland groups rarely stay more than three nights in one place and usually stay in youth hostels, establishments that provide cheap food and lodging for students and other travelers.

“Studying abroad is a big adventure, you are in a new place around people who eat, think and speak different than you,” said Lauren Schad, science and agricultural journalism major.

Schad spent four weeks in Ireland. Three weeks were spent traveling around the country and the fourth week the students were given the opportunity to travel to a destination of choice. While traveling around Ireland the students visited many castles and even kissed the blarney stone.

“If given the chance to study abroad again I would go in a heart beat,” Schad said. Schad suggests that students go on a study abroad program the summer after their freshman year. Once a student graduates and is seeking a job, employers like to see internships and study abroad experience. If a student waits to study abroad till their second or third year they may miss out on important internship possibilities.

Most study abroad programs are open to all MU students. This gives students the opportunity to meet people outside of CAFNR, as well as giving non-CAFNR students a glimpse of agriculture in other countries, Schad said.

While giving a study abroad presentation to Jan Duave’s agricultural economics class, Haley Thompson, a biological chemistry major, made the point that employers are interested in study abroad students. Thompson traveled to Thailand on a CAFNR study abroad program.

Study Aboard can be expensive but CAFNR offers many scholarships to these students. Plus CAFNR and MU offer low-interest loans. If a student wants to study abroad there are many resources available to make it happen.

For more information about study abroad, visit the Academic Programs Office in the Agriculture Building, as well as the CAFNR study abroad website.  

“Seeing that the world is bigger than your own backyard is a lesson one can not truly understand until he or she experiences it for themselves,” Davis said.

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